Non-Conductive Privacy Fence

ABSTRACT

The invention as described herein includes a substantially nonconductive barrier assembly that includes at least one longitudinal support, a barrier and a hood. The barrier is non-exclusively composed of several barrier panels. Each panel has a planar member having a front surface and a back surface and a top edge and a bottom edge; at least one rib member extends from the back surface, and the top edge of a first panel and the bottom edge of a second panel are disposed adjacent to one another to form the barrier. The barrier may be attached to the longitudinal support to span a vertical plane. The hood has an inner surface that extends from a distal edge of the hood. The hood is disposed so that an angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the barrier measures about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees and a perforated ledge member extending substantially horizontally and inwardly from the distal edge of the hood to the front surface of the barrier. In an embodiment, each of the support, the barrier and the hood independently comprise a nonconductive material. Also included is an enclosure formed from at least two of the barrier assemblies as described herein, wherein a first vertical edge of the first barrier assembly is attached to a second vertical edge of a second barrier assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 25 U.S.C. 119(e) from prior filed U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/879,776, filed Jul. 29, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In most industrialized countries individual consumers expect delivery of reliable, consistent electrical power on an on-demand basis to their personal residences and neighborhoods. However, many of these same consumers consider the equipment necessary to supply such power to be unsightly and are unhappy when it must be located in their neighborhood.

For safety reasons, this equipment is usually surround by a fence or barrier. Often this fence is a chain link fence, which are durable, cheap and endure through most weather. However, chain link fences are themselves generally regarded as ugly, contributing therefore to the existing problem of unsightliness that the substation already has.

Therefore, there remains a need in the art for a save, inexpensive, aesthetically acceptable, and durable barrier or fences for use in such contexts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The nonconductive barrier described herein addresses these needs. It is relatively inexpensive, as it requires no grounding, is easily transported and installed. It can be colored, painted or otherwise decorated to be aesthetically acceptable for the environment in which it is placed. Moreover, it is high durable, even exceeding the durability of concrete blocks.

The invention as described herein includes a substantially nonconductive barrier assembly that includes at least one longitudinal support, a barrier and a hood.

The barrier is non-exclusively composed of several barrier panels. Each panel has a planar member having a front surface and a back surface and a top edge and a bottom edge; at least one rib member extends from the back surface, and the top edge of a first panel and the bottom edge of a second panel are disposed adjacent to one another to form the barrier. The barrier may be attached to the longitudinal support to span a vertical plane. The hood has an inner surface that extends from a distal edge of the hood. The hood is disposed so that an angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the barrier measures about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees and a perforated ledge member extending substantially horizontally and inwardly from the distal edge of the hood to the front surface of the barrier. In an embodiment, each of the support, the barrier and the hood independently comprise a nonconductive material. Also included is an enclosure formed from at least two of the barrier assemblies as described herein, wherein a first vertical edge of the first barrier assembly is attached to a second vertical edge of a second barrier assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

At least one drawing executed in color is included herein. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the barrier system of the invention along section A-A;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of two barrier panels connectable by a plate;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, assembled;

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 taken at B-B; a

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a second exemplary barrier panel for use in the invention;

FIG. 5a is a detail showing how the barrier panels of FIG. 6 are reversibly engaged;

FIG. 6 is a is a cross sectional view of a third exemplary barrier panel for use in the invention; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 show various options and design that can be placed on the front of the barrier panel to provide an aesthetically decorative appearance and/or to permit the barrier to better “blend in” to the environment in which it is placed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein relates to a barrier assembly that is nonconductive and, in many embodiments, is opaque when viewed by humans and other mammals and related methods. By virtue of the unusual combination of structure and composition, the invention described here gives rise to numerous advantages including: noise reduction, aesthetic versatility, lightweightness, resistance to corrosion lack of electrical conductivity, high strength-to-weight ratio; electromagnetically transparency, long lasting, weather imperviousness. Moreover, the invention provides a barrier system with easy installation, low lifetime maintenance and which may be engineered to provide privacy.

While the nonconductive systems and the related barriers described herein are described as being particularly useful for enclosing an area containing a substation or other energized equipment, it is understood that this environment is not intended to be limiting and the nonconductive systems and the related barriers of the present invention can be used to enclose or partition any parcel of land, and can be used independently of mobile substations and electrical equipment.

As used herein, the term “nonconductive” indicates that a material or component has little to no electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity is the measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current (Helmenstine, 2018). Substations typically use more conductive metals such as Copper (electrical conductivity of 5.96×10⁷ S/m) and Aluminum (electrical conductivity of 3.5×10⁷ S/m) in their substation designs to aid in the flow and distribution of electrical current (Helmenstine, 2018). In comparison, 316 Stainless Steel (that has an electrical conductivity of 1.45×10⁷ S/m), is approximately 24.5 times less conductive than aluminum and 41.1 times less conductive than copper.

With a much lower electrical conductivity, stainless steel may make a suitable metal to use for small hardware applications in the non-conductive assembly. The assembly may utilize fiberglass components as fiberglass has negligible electrical conductivity, usually less than 1×10⁻¹⁴ S/m. In return, fiberglass makes an excellent insulator that doesn't allow electrical current to flow freely through the material, thus giving it the ability of having nonconductive properties.

Any reference herein to a “support substrate” refers to a surface on which the barrier assembly is installed. Support substrates may include any indoor or outdoor surfaces, such as the ground, whether dirt, rock, grass, sand, concrete, macadam, or stone, among others. It should be understood that such surfaces are rarely completely level and may have severely varied topography over a given installation. Allowance should be made for such variances therefore when descriptors such as “parallel” or “in the same plane” are used herein.

The present application in some embodiments may be described using words such as “upper” and “lower,” “inner” and “outer,” “right” and “left,” “interior” and “exterior,” and the like. These words and words of similar directional import are used for assisting in the understanding of the invention when referring to the drawings or another component of the invention and, absent a specific definition or meaning otherwise given by the specification, such terms should not be considered limiting to the scope of the invention.

The invention incudes a barrier assembly, methods of manufacturing and installing it, as wells as method of its use, e.g., methods of dividing a geography into one or more space, method of enclosing a geography, and the like.

The barrier assembly includes at least one longitudinal support. Such support may be in any form, and when the assembly is installed, extends from the support substrate (for example, a surface of a plot of land) upwardly. The support(s) may be of any dimension and such dimension may vary from support to support as necessary or desirable in a specific installation. In an embodiment, it may be desirable that the height/longitudinal dimension (x dimension) of the support is about 4 feet to about 20 feet, about 5 feet to about 15 feet, about 6 feet to about 8 feet.

The y and z dimensions (width and depth dimensions) may be any desirable or necessary for the particular installation in which the assembly of the invention is used. For example, in an embodiment at least one of the supports may be an architectural structure (e.g., a work shed, dwelling, or other building or structure). In an embodiment, the support(s) may be conventional fence posts having, for example, either round, elliptical, or polygonal cross sections. In an embodiment that may be preferred, the support(s) have a round cross-section of a diameter of about 2 inches to about 6 inches. Alternatively, the supports may be in the form of a W-beam.

The supports may be hollow or solid; in an embodiment they are coated with a fireproofing material, UV absorbing polymer or other substance to further enhance weather resistance or another desirable property.

Upon installation of the assembly, the number of support will vary depending on the distance that the end barrier or fence is intended to span, and the distance between each support, which will vary in view of such factors as the support substrate topography, the weight and dimension of the selected barrier panels and the wishes/needs of the installer or user. In most embodiments, the assembly will include at least two, likely 1-50 supports.

The assembly includes a barrier, which is composed of barrier panels. The barrier may be any dimensions and such dimensions may vary even in a single barrier assembly. The barrier includes a front surface, a back surface, an upper edge and a lower edge that is sited more closely to the support substrate than the upper edge. In an embodiment, the front surface may be decorated so as to “blend in” to its surroundings, to present advertising materials such as posters and signs (e.g., in the manner of a billboard) or to be otherwise aesthetically pleasing.

The barrier is composed of a plurality of barrier panels; such number will vary depending on the size of the panels, and the size of the barrier formed. The panels each include a planar member that is essentially the fabric of the barrier. It may be preferred that the planar member presents a solid surface. However, some or all planar members making up a given barrier may contain slots, vents, perforations or other holes or apertures, for example, to permit such things as mail, cables, pipes, light, wind, or water to pass through the barrier if desired.

In general, for reasons of installation efficiency, the planar members of the panels will be rectangular or square when viewed from plan view. Dimension may vary; for example, the planar member may have a first dimension of about 10 to about 30 inches or about 12 to 24 inches, and a second dimension of about 2 to about 10 or about 4 to about 6 inches. In an embodiment, when installed, the first dimension is an x/longitudinal dimension and the second dimension is a y/longitudinal dimension (where the y dimension is the one substantially parallel to the surface of the support substrate). The planar members may be of any thickness (z dimension), such as, for example, about 0.2 to about 2 inch or about 0.4 to about 0.7 inches.

From the back surface of each of the planar members extends at least one rib member. The rib member extends outwardly from the back surface on a plane that is substantially parallel to a top edge of the planar member when installed. In an embodiment, the planar member includes 1 to about 5 rib members extending from the back surface each spaced apart from the other. In a preferred embodiment, a rib member extends from the back surface at the top edge and at the bottom edge of the planar member, and an additional two ribs are sited equidistantly between them. The rib members and the planar member may be independently made of the same or of different materials.

In an embodiment, the edges of the planar members are relatively smooth, so that they may be placed adjacently to one another “butt joint” type configuration to form the barrier panels. Alternatively, the edges or ends of the planar member may be adapted to engage with one another, either reversibly or permanently. For example, the edges or ends of the planar members may include tongue-and-groove types or a tab-and-hole type types of structures allowing a panel to engage with its neighboring panel. More details are provided below with reference to the Figures.

In the installation of the barrier assembly, the barrier is formed of two or more barrier panels disposed adjacently one another creating a seam by the adjacent placement of the barrier panels. In some embodiments, this seam made be overlaid with another material, e.g., a tape or a strip, to make the seam watertight or confer some other property. When installed, the barrier is attached to at least one of the longitudinal supports so it is a substantially upright position relative to the support substrate and to span a vertical plane (e.g., an angle α_(b) formed between the front surface of the barrier and the support substrate about 20 degrees to about 170 degrees, preferably about 80 to about 10 degrees depending on the topography of the support substrate.)

The barrier system of the invention also includes a hood. The hood is sited so that it extends downwardly from an upper portion of the barrier, when installed so that an angle α_(a) formed between the front surface of the barrier and the inner surface of the hood measures about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees, about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees, about 35 degrees, about 40 degrees, and/or about 45 degrees.

In various embodiments, the hood may be attached via its upper edge to, for example, the barrier, an additional rail or panel extending along the barrier, an external structure and the like. The hood also includes a perforated ledge member that extends substantially horizontally and inwardly from the distal edge of the hood to the front surface of the barrier, such that the front surface of the barrier, the inner surface of the hood and a top surface of the perforated member define a space having the geometry of a substantially triangular prism.

The hood may be made of a single panel, several panels or it may be constructed of a plurality of barrier panels in a manner similar to the barrier. In general, the hood may be any length; in some embodiment, the length of the hood may be about 20% to about 60% of the length of the barrier, depending on the height of the fence. In an embodiment, the hood may also include a lip or ledge extending outwardly away from the barrier from the distal edge of the hood.

The perforated member bears perforations, vents, holes, apertures and the like which allow for flow of air and moisture. In some embodiments, the perforated member is a mesh or screen. Such perforations may be for example, in the form of holes having a diameter measurement of about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.3, about 0.4, about 0.5, and about 0.6 inches. In some embodiments, the perforated member has about 4 perforations per square inch.

In some embodiment, the perforated member is not present at all.

Each of the component parts described herein may be composed in whole or in part of a nonconductive material, as defined above. Suitable materials will vary depending on the component buy may include, for example, polymers, plastics, rubbers, fiberglass, wood, glass, ceramics, and the like. The component parts described here may be attached or affixed to one another via any means or mechanisms known in the art, for example, various mechanical or chemical fasteners such as welds, adhesives, cements, bolts, screws, brackets, dowels, nails, o-rings, pins, rivets, staples, seams, crimps, snap-fits and shrink-fits, bands, plates, and the like.

Any or all of the component part may be treated or coated with a treatment that provides an advantageous property, such as, for example, UV resistance, weather resistance, mold, rot or other spoilage resistance, water or moisture resistance, fire retardants, anti-graffiti coatings, etc.

With reference to FIG. 1, which shows an embodiment of the barrier assembly 100 invention in a cross section taken at section A-A when such embodiment is installed on a surface substrate 500. As can be observed from the Figure, the installed barrier assembly 100 is, at least at section A-A, installed so that an angle α_(b) formed between the surface of the substrate and the front surface 124 of the barrier 104 is about 120 degrees. In this embodiment, the barrier assembly 100 includes a longitudinal support 102 that is a W beam and a barrier 104. The barrier 104 is composed of a plurality of barrier panels 106, each placed adjacently to the previous barrier panel. The barrier panels 106 are placed so that all the front surfaces 110 of the planar members 108 are facing outward and all the back surfaces 112 of the planar members 108 face inwardly.

In this Figure, the barrier assembly 100 is installed on a support substrate 500 that is the ground/earth. The longitudinal support 102 has a lower end 118 (not shown) that is placed in cement (not shown). However, in various embodiments the lower end may be buried in earth, cement, concrete, sand, clay and/or it may be attached to a track, frame or other structure to maintain the barrier in an upright position.

The barrier assembly 100 includes a hood 120 which, in this embodiment, extends from an upper edge 122 of the barrier 104. The hood extends outwardly and downwardly so that a V shaped channel is formed, when viewed in cross section. In this embodiment, an angle α_(a) formed between the front surface 124 of the barrier 104 and the inner surface 126 of the hood 120 measures about 45 degrees.

Extending inwardly from the distal edge 128 of the hood 120 is a perforated ledge member 130. In this embodiment, the perforated member 130 extends all the way to the front surface 124 of the barrier to define a space 134 having the geometry of a substantially triangular prism.

However, in other embodiments, it may extend only partially. It may be preferred that an angle α_(c) formed between the inner surface 126 of the hood 120 and the top surface 132 of the ledge member measures about 30 to about 50 degrees, or about 45 degrees as shown in the Figure.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, various barrier panels are shown. As can be seen in these Figures, the barrier panel 106 used in the invention includes a planar member 108 that has a front surface 110, a back surface 112, a top edge 114 and a bottom edge 116. The barrier panel further includes rib member(s) 136 extending from the back surface 112 of the planar member 108. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the front surface of the planar member 110 includes a first edge bevel 138 and a second edge bevel 140. When the barrier panels 106 a and 106 b are placed adjacently to form the barrier, the first bevel edge 138 b of barrier panel 106 b and the second bevel edge 140 a define a channel. Into the channel fits a plate 142, which is attached to the first bevel edge 138 b and the second bevel edge 140 a via a set of screws 144 a and 144 b.

FIGS. 5, 5 a and 6, show other exemplary engageable structures for the barrier panels. In FIG. 5, the edge 116 of the planar member 108 bears a hook shaped outer nesting element 146 that is capable of engaging with the inner nesting element 148 located on an edge 114 of an adjacent planar member 108. See, e.g., FIG. 5 a.

In FIG. 7, the edge 116 of the planar member 108 bears a tongue element 154 that is capable of engaging with the beveled element 154 located on an edge 114 of an adjacent planar member 108.

In an embodiment, the front surface (or any visible surface) of the barrier assembly may be covered with decorative panels to provide a desired appearance. With reference to FIG. 7, such panels may be provide the “look” of architectural details, for example, the appearance of any of slate, field stone, board, shingles, bead board, river stone, wood, paneling, plaster granite, marble, limestone, natural brick, “log cabin” logs, painted brick, stucco, and similar. Such panels are preferably made of a light weigh material, such as a resin, lightweight metal or plastic. It is preferred that such panels are attached with adhesive and are not greater than about 2 to about 4 or to about 6 inches thick (inclusive of any adhesive or other attachment layer). Examples of such decorative options are shown in FIG. 7.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A substantially non conductive barrier assembly comprising: a. at least one longitudinal support; b. a barrier comprising a plurality of barrier panels, wherein each panel comprises a planar member having a front surface and a back surface and a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein at least one rib member extends from the back surface, and the top edge of a first panel and the bottom edge of a second panel are disposed adjacent to one another to form the barrier; wherein the barrier is attached to the longitudinal support to span a vertical plane; and c. a hood having an inner surface extending to a distal edge, the hood being disposed so that an angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the barrier measures about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees and a perforated ledge member extending substantially horizontally and inwardly from the distal edge of the hood to the front surface of the barrier, wherein each of the support, the barrier and the hood independently comprise a nonconductive material.
 2. The barrier assembly of claim 1 comprising two or more longitudinal supports.
 3. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal support is independently a W-beam.
 4. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the barrier panels are perceived as substantially opaque to a mammal.
 5. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the top edge of a first panel and the bottom edge of a second panel each adapted to engage with the other to form the barrier.
 6. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the barrier comprises about 3 to about 50 barrier panels.
 7. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the barrier comprises about 10 to about 20 barrier panels.
 8. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the barrier panel(s) independently have about 2 to about 5 rib members.
 9. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the engageable barrier panels engage with one another by a tongue-and-groove mechanism.
 10. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the barrier panels are reversibly engageable.
 11. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein a top edge of the hood is attached to an upper edge of the barrier directly or indirectly.
 12. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the simple barrier measures about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees.
 13. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the simple barrier measures about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees.
 14. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the inner surface of the hood and a front surface of the simple barrier measures about 25 degrees.
 15. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the material is selected from fiberglass, a polymer, glass, asphalt, rubber, and plastic.
 16. The barrier assembly of claim 1 wherein the perforations have a diameter selected from a measurement of about 0.2, about 0.3, about 0.4, about 0.5, and about 0.6 inches.
 17. An enclosure comprising at least two of the barrier assemblies of claim 1, wherein a first vertical edge of the first barrier assembly is attached to a second vertical edge of a second barrier assembly. 